PLANT PRIMER
‘Red Valentine’ Chinese evergreen
Light: low to bright indirect light
Height: 12 to 18 inches Spread: 12 to 18 inches USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Origin: hybrid, tropical swamps and rainforest of southeastern Asia
During a dreary, gray Ohio winter, tropical plants can be a source of brightness.
The ‘Red Valentine’ Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema x “Red Valentine”) is one such plant.
The plant offers showy, variegated foliage with large splashes of rosy pink on a dark-green background. The leaf petiole, midrib and margin are red and pink that contrast nicely with the dark-green leaf.
The best colors are seen in indirect light situations; direct sunshine can give the leaves a sunburn. The leaves are 8 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The occasional flower, a greenish-white spadix and spathe, is usually hidden by the foliage.
More than just beautiful, Aglaonemas are on NASA’S list of air-purifying plants that are proven to remove certain toxins in the home. Just note that these plants are not petfriendly; Aglaonemas are toxic if eaten and the sap can irritate skin.
See the ‘Red Valentine’ Chinese evergreen in the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse as part of the orchids exhibition at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.